April 23, 2009

Student-built bridge stands tall at legislature

A time-lapse video was produced to chronicle the bridge’s construction.

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From left, Dr. Emmett Sumner, the faculty advisor on the bridge project; student bridge designers Ahmad Saffouri, Lina Lawrence and Matthew Poisel; and Dr. Louis A. Martin-Vega, dean of the College of Engineering.

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Engineering students at North Carolina State University who designed and built a fully functional temporary pedestrian bridge outside the Legislative Building in Raleigh were rewarded for their efforts with the 2009 Future of Engineering Award.

The students received the award, which is sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Carolina (ACEC/NC), at a ceremony at the bridge site on April 22. Leading the bridge design were NC State seniors Lina Lawrence, Matthew Poisel and Ahmad Saffouri of the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering.

Eleven students from the departments of industrial and systems engineering, electrical and computer engineering, computer science and materials science and engineering were also part of the bridge team.

The ceremony occurred as part of Engineering Days, an annual event held by the engineering companies of ACEC/NC to highlight the leadership role that engineering plays in the present and future prosperity of North Carolina.

Students built the bridge after winning a competition that required teams to design a temporary pedestrian bridge suitable for quick deployment in remote areas. Teams were evaluated by College faculty based on several factors, including the innovative nature of the design and the use of sustainable materials and construction techniques.

Students built the bridge on April 21 and were on hand the following day to give tours and answer questions about its construction. The students were recognized for their work by Sen. Tony Rand in the N.C. Senate chambers.

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